Category Archives: CCIE general

CCIE Motivation

Posted by on February 5, 2010 2 comments

  I love the internet. Not because of social networking sites, viral videos, or the latest updates on tiger woods’ infidelity. I love it because it’s the only place that I can see (well, read) about others who are just as motivated as myself, if not more. In the real world, I know about 200 people who aspire to be a CCNA. I literally know zero who are working on the CCNP. I know one who is working on the CCIE, but has pretty much given up at this point..after two attempts at the v 3.0 lab. I go online, and I read about 20 people off of techexams who are studying for the R&S written. Granted, out of those 20, I wholeheartedly believe 1-3 will become CCIE’s..maybe.

I’m a huge fan of Donald Trump. Many people know this. I’m always reading something about him, I loved The Apprentice, and I always quote him. In one of his books, he mentions the fact that most people earn within 10% of their friends. The idea is, if you make a lot of money, you socialize with people who also make a lot of money. If you hang with low-lifes, you’ll be a low-life…etc. Fair enough..I believe it. Anyway, the same is true for motivation. If you place yourself around highly motivated people, you will be more likely to be motivated. Look at the top colleges in the country. Why are they the top? Because of the price? Maybe. I’d venture to say the students that go there are so high of a caliber, and motivated, that they push each other to become better. Why can’t the Cisco world be the same way? I don’t want to talk to people who are “thinking” about the CCNA for 2 yrs. I want to talk to those who are scheduling exams, and putting in the lab and book time..because THOSE are the people who motivate me. I’m not saying I dislike or don’t enjoy talking to cisco “hopefuls”, on the contrary- I love helping others. I just don’t look to that crowd for motivation.

I’m not really the type who gets super amped up about something and lets the fire die. I’d say I’m more like what you might call a “true believer”. I get a goal in my heart, and believe in it so much that I absolutely know it will happen..it’s just a matter of finding out the how to get to that point.

Anyway, at the end of the day, yes, the CCIE, and all other exams, are just that- exams. However, without motivation, you won’t go far. Maybe the CCIE is more than just knowing the technologies. Maybe it’s just as much of a test of personality as it is skills.

Why I think the CCIE R&S V4.0 is easier.

Posted by on November 23, 2009 Comments Off

Alright, hear me out. I’m not saying the CCIE is easy. I’m not saying it’s “easier then ever.” What I AM saying is, I think the v4.0 (while many have been afraid of 4.0)- is easier than 3.0 Here’s how I see it..

Cisco had a problem with cheating/braindumps

We all know it. Braindumping was running rampant (and still seems to be on the lower-level certifications). Braindumping and cheating severely devalues a certification. The individual taking the certification doesn’t learn anything, and the vendor faces a situation in which their certification doesn’t mean as much as it used to. With the prestige of the CCIE- this isn’t acceptable.


Why I think Cisco made it easier..and harder

I should make it clear- I think the purpose behind v4.0 was primarily to cut down on the cheating in the CCIE program. How better to do this, then to introduce a 2 hour troubleshooting section (and OEQ’s..which were introduced before 4.0)?? It seems that possibly- and this is speculation- the OEQ’s did help, but not as much as Cisco hoped. With the troubleshooting section included, this HAS to weed out a considerable amount of those attempting to cheat the exam.

Easier? Well, I think so..for those of us who study the material. Let’s look at it: Everyone knows that Cisco added things like MPLS/VPN to the CCIE exam. So, let me get this right, we have to troubleshoot for 2 hours, have 30 minutes to take our OEQ’s..and we have to conquer a test that already had a 10%’ish (don’t quote me) pass rate on the first try? And we only have 6 hours to handle the configuration portion…with more material? I don’t think so. It seems to me, that Cisco may have widened the river, and made it a little more shallow. When I say ‘shallow’, I mean it relatively..I’m not implying the CCIE is considerably easier, but that maybe..just maybe, the CCIE is more attainable for those who put in the work. It should also go without beind said, that the troubleshooting section means you do need to be on your game when you show up to test.

Of course, all of this is personal speculation..and ultimately, I will find out firsthand when I sit the lab exam next year.


What about all those who have failed the 4.0 exam?

I’m not trying to take anything away from those who have failed the new exam, but I can’t help but think some candidates may have jumped the gun, anxious to try the new v4.0 format. In that same note, it’s a new experience for them..new experience brings frustration, anxiety, and stress. The CCIE isn’t easy, and never was, so you can’t really blame them. I expect we’ll see more passes in the next 6 months. Only time will tell. If it continues to be this difficult, it will be interesting to see what CCIE candidates do.

Review, review, review, and some more review..

Posted by on August 27, 2009 Comments Off

So I started the CCIE exam cert book again, and got up to Chapter 7 with the time I had fairly quickly, which was good, since pretty much everything was still fresh in my mind. I am going to lab some IP services stuff and HSRP/VRRP/GLBP today and tomorrow, and then hit the books again in a couple of days..I’ll post some updates soon…

Not dead!

Posted by on August 19, 2009 Comments Off

“I wasn’t satisfied just to earn a good living. I was looking to make a statement” – Donald Trump


Well, I’m getting back into things. My life has been very busy in the last month or so. My older brother, Dan, is getting married in less then a month, I’m getting married myself in less than 2 months, going to Jamaica for a week, etc.  That being said, it’s time to hone in and get back to basics. I’m going to start at block A, and re-read the CCIE exam cert guide (v3.0, unfortunately..I will fill in the gaps with online docs, videos, and hands on experimentation), then take the CCIE written. My tentative goal is to take it just barely after the new year. If all goes well, I’ll pass it within a couple of weeks of us breaking into 2010. I hope then to take the ONT exam quickly, and schedule the CCIE lab exam for somewhere around late 2010.  I need to get back on the horse, because for a while, I lost my focus, and got a little overconfident I think. Now that I am back in the right mindset, I need to re-focus, and assess where I stand, and get to work. Just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still rolling, albeit very slowly.

Look for an article or two to show up in the next week or two if things go right. Not sure what subject it’ll be on yet. Take care…..stay classy, san diego.